Battery strap



T. J. GRYPMA Nov. 27, 1956 BATTERY STRAP Filed Aug. 12, 1952 INVENTOR YTHEODORE J. GRYPMA ATTORNEY United States Patent BATTERY STRAP TheodoreJ. Grypma, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application August 12, 1952, Serial No. 303,901

2 Claims. (Cl. 294103) This invention relates to a particularly novel,simple and effective battery strap which is easily secured to the twoupstanding spaced posts of the usual and conventional storage battery,large numbers of which are used in motor vhicles, for carrying thebattery from one place to another and for removing and replacing it. Itis an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a batterystrap which when connected to the posts has an exceptionally secure andpositive connection, irrespective of wear or indentations or othersurface damage which may occur to said posts in batteries after aconsiderable length of use, and which insures positively againstaccidental or other unwanted disconnection of the strap from the posts,which if it occurs will result in damage because of dropping of thebattery or in other undesired happenings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a battery strap used inthe manner indicated, which is simple, but exceptionally sturdy in itsconstruction, may be manufactured at a low cost and which will have along life of usefulness.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end of a battery strap having my inventionapplied thereto and showing the position of the parts when the strap hasbeen positively connected to a battery post.

Fig. 2 is a similar plan view, showing the position of the parts whenthe strap has been applied to the post but not yet positively connectedtherewith.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, substantially on the plane ofline 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the battery strap and post with the partsin the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the manually operated, positive securingmeans used with the post attaching mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification instructure, and

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawing.

With my invention, at each end of the battery strap a fiat metal strapis bent back upon itself to provide upper and lower sides 1 and 2between which an end of the battery strap 3 is inserted and has ariveted or other equivalent permanent connection therewith. The upperand lower sides 1 and 2 are integrally connected by a loop 4 having agenerally cylindrical form which extends from one side of the upper andlower members 1 and 2 toward the opposite side thereof, a part of theloop 4 adjacent one side being cut away, as shown, leaving a verticalshoulder 5 on the upper side 1 and a shoulder 6 in the partial loopextension of the lower side 2 as shown in Fig. 4.

The two upper and lower sides 1 and 2 have circular openings 7therethrough in vertical alignment which, at one side, extend partiallyinto the loop 4 and through which the vertical battery post 8 is adaptedto extend.

. .are worn oif and rounded, avoiding excess indentation.

2,772,112 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 ice That is, each end of the batterystrap structure is applied to the two spaced apart posts 8 by bringingthe metal post engaging means, one at each end of the strap, down to andover the posts. The diameter of the openings 7 may be the same or mayvary slightly in diameter to accommodate posts 8 which may have a slightupward taper.

A length of rod is bent between its ends to provide two sections 9 and10 at right angles to each other. The section 9 is a shaft and isinserted through the loop 4 while the section 10 provides an operatinghandle for manually turning such shaft 9. Such section 9 at a sidethereof is machined to cut away a part of the metal leaving a recesswhich in practice has substantially two fiat bottom surfaces 11 and 12disposed at an obtuse angle to each other as shown in Fig. 3. This isconveniently done by using a rotating cutting tool, having an endcutting surface, such as an end drill and the like to cut the metal awayto the depth of the surface 11 and then turning the section 9 about itslongitudinal axis through a predetermined arc and again cutting by theend drill until the surface 12 is reached. Adjacent the free end of theshaft section 9 a groove 14 is made peripherally therearound, in which,after the parts have been assembled, a split clinching ring 15 is placedand compressed and clinched into the groove so as to be inseparabletherefrom.

The location of the intermediate recessed portion on shaft 9 withrelation to the openings 7 and handle 10 is such that when the handle 10extends vertically, as in Figs. 2 and 4, space is provided so that theopenings 7, when the upper and lower sections 1 and 2 are moveddownward, freely receive the post. Then by manually moving the handle 10counter-clockwise (Fig. 4), the rotative section or shaft portion 9 ofthe rod is turned through an arc and the recessed portion of the shaftsection 9 swung away from the post and the corner portion at 13 betweenthe surface 11 and the outer curved surface of the shaft 9 brought tobear against the post forcing it against the edges of the opening 7diametrically opposite the engagement of the corner portion 13 with thepost. Such corner portions 13 in the manufacturing process used inconnection .with the shaft 9 and handle 10 is not left sharp, but in atumbling operation, in which large numbers of the shaft and handlemembers are tumbled in a rotating tumbling barrel, the edges. at 13 orgouging in of a sharp corner into a battery post.

A battery strap connected at both ends to the two posts of a storagebattery is .very securely and positively held against accidental orother disconnection from the posts. In many types of battery straps theconnection with the post is automatic, the lifitng of the battery by anupward lift on the middle portion of the strap 3 causing a biting intoor gripping of the post by the end connections on the strap, but if thebattery is lowered on a supporting surface such connection does notremain positive and upon relifting the strap frequently disconnects,also wear and damage to the posts causes ineifective strap connectionthereto. With my invention, because of the manual operation of thehandle 10 from vertical to or toward horizontal position, a positive andinseparable connection is made and one which will remain until thehandle is operated manually back to its initial vertical position.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a spring is provided acting upon the rock shaft 9. Thesplit ring 15 is replaced by a wire hook 16 which fits the groove 14 inthe projecting end portion of shaft 9. The hook is continued integrallyin an arm 17 alongside and at the adjacent edges of the plates 1 and 2,and terminates in a transverse end section 18 which passes between theplates and is securely clamped in place when the plates 1 and 2 areriveted to the adjacent end of the strap 3.

The -end"of' the loop 4--at -the handle portion 10 is cutat an-aouteangleto-the-len gth-ofthestrap "as shown at 4a in Fig. 6. The arm17,normally, when it was free from connection to the shaft"*9 wouldswing outwardly away=frorn -said-shaft so that when connected to the 5shaft it is be'n't-i from" its -normal free position and de--' velo'ps'a force '---whi'chpullsthe handle -10 1 into' engage ment with' the-loopedge 4a; It is of course -to-beun-" de'rstood that the edge 4a may takean indefinite number of positions-ofgreatenor less angles, may be astraight angle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with respect to the length ofthe-batterystrap, and may be'carried across tofthe other side, that is,the inclination of the edge 4a be opposite that-shown in Fig. '6-without departing from the invention With such structure, a brakingaction isprovided by the bearing of thehandle lfl againstthe edge 4a."As an equivalent, a coiled spring under compression may be placedbetween the ring 15 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and theadjacent end of the loop 4. In the turning of the rock shaft there is,with the angular position of the edge as at 4a or'in a reverse positionthereof as described, a simultaneous rocking and longitudinal movementof the-shaft 10' which helps to engage" the'central'portion of the shaft9 with the battery post 8."

With a new battery where the posts'have undergone substantially noservice, and with'the dimensions 'of the openings at 7 throughthepl'ate's'l and 2closely cor-1 responding to the exterior dimensionsof the post, merely placing the strap in place with the post connectors"thereof over the posts, as in Fig. 3, will, upon an upward pull on thebattery strap between its ends, cause a con nection to the posts withoutrequiring any operation of the rock shaft. But in time as th'ebatteryposts become" worn, sometimes intended or otherwise worn ordamaged apositive connection is made and one which will 'not' accidentallyrelease.

The structure describedis sturdy and durable in use; is economical tomake, is readily and easily operated and is certain and sureinpositiveness of connection 'to th'e1'40 battery post under allconditions 'of'carrying the battery, removing it or replacing'it in amotor vehicle, or in other.

physical movement of the battery.

strap aligned--therewith is inserted and secured, said bent-- portion ofthe strap having a generally cylindrical form adapted to receive agenerally cylindrical shaft, and said sides having aligned postreceiving openings extending partly into said connecting portion, saidconnecting portion and post openings being beyond the adjacent end ofsaid strap, a shaft extending-through and rockingly mounted in saidconnecting portion, having a recess in a side thereof adaptedtobe turnedtotwo different positions, in one *of which: a battery post may freelypass into and through said openings, and in another of which the shaftis forced against the adjacent side of said"-='post, and manuallyoperable means for rocking the shaft, said means comprising an operatinghandle extending from one end of said shaft at an angle to the lengththereof and providing a stop means engaging one of said sides when saidshaft is in the first mentioned position.

2. 'A' battery "post engaging-attachment "permanently secured one atea'ch-en'd 0f a 'flexibleastrap comprising, a length of'flat -metal'bent back upon itself having upperand' lower spaced-"parallel fiat'"sides integrally-'- connected at' one end bye-generallycy'lindricalsh'aft receiving-, connecting portion-said sides havingvertically aligned open'irigs' through which a battery'post is adaptedto pass;

said openings *extendingpartly" into said connecting portioii, and-saidconnect-ing portion-and post openings b' ing 'beyon'dthe adjacent end ofsaid strap, a shaft re cessed -in one 'sidebetween its ends rockinglymounted in and passingthrough saidconnecting portion, a handle" at-on'e:cn'd of t-he sha'ft generally at rightangles thereto;

andstop means onfone of said sides-against which saidhandle 'ehgageswith e=handle in generally vertical'po'si tionand said sides in"generally 'horizontal' positiori," said opposite therefrom.

Rferences'Cited in'llhe' file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS583,316 ueafieiw'uur June 1, 1897 1,876Q'834" Ber'ge 2 Sept-13, 1932'1,927,920 Colley; Sept. 26,- 193 3 2,011,531 Ellis etal r Aug. 13; 19352,271,692 Hewel Feb.-3, 1942

